Everton face another derby day with home hoodoo still hanging over them

For Everton, who are of course at home, there is not only the desperate need for more points with Premier League safety still far from assured, but also the desire to try and restore some pride and do whatever they can to prevent Liverpool winning the title.

But it is a tall order obviously, given the difference in quality between the two sides and also because the Toffees have not won a home league derby since October 2010!

That is a ridiculous barren spell which has now reached nearly fourteen years. I was at Goodison Park for that win when Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta goals secured a 2-0 victory against a Reds team then managed by Roy Hodgson.

It was the first match that Liverpool played under their new owner John W. Henry and it was a far from auspicious start for the American.

But, as we all know he got it right when he appointed Jurgen Klopp as manager in 2015 and since then Liverpool have gone on to become England's second best side behind Manchester City.

Tomorrow evening is Klopp's last derby and in his time he has only tasted defeat in this fixture once, when Everton won 2-0 at Anfield in the 2020-21 season under then manager Carlo Ancelotti.

That was the Blues first victory at that ground since 1999 and the drought at home has now gone on even longer!

It was a memorable evening but also one overshadowed a bit because supporters were not allowed to attend due to the Covid restrictions in place. So it almost feels as though it didn't happen.

And it was a time of hope, and maybe even a little emerging expectation, which was beginning to take hold of Evertonians with Ancelotti in charge.

Today all that hope is of course long gone with the club enduring another horrendous and uniquely chaotic campaign both on and off the pitch.

Wednesday's game will not only be Klopp's final derby but it might also be the last time Everton play one in the top flight, if the worst happens and they are finally relegated at the end of the season.

Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest - overshadowed though it was by all the controversy about the away side's comments following the game - has at least given the Toffees some more wriggle room but safety is clearly still far from assured.

At the time of writing we have heard nothing on any fresh injuries following Sunday (with Beto's late head clash being the biggest worry) or if players like Jarrad Branthwaite - who played despite being a doubt earlier - have any further issues.

Assuming not, then I imagine Sean Dyche will pick basically the same team that beat Forest. We all know he doesn't like taking chances and will understandably want to keep it tight tomorrow.

It seems too much to hope that Everton will finally overcome their derby hoodoo at the Grand Old Lady tomorrow night.

I suppose the best we can hope for is another draw, as so many of the recent Goodison games between the old rivals have been.

However, it would obviously be really good to send Klopp off with a defeat and finally end that long win-less run at Goodison Park! After all surely such a run has to come to end sometime? Over to you then lads.